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Statewide Initiatives

The pathway to obtaining a pharmacy technician certificate begins with completing the training requirements. To complete the training requirements, the applicant must first obtain a pharmacy technician candidate registration. The candidate registration is a training credential; it authorizes the candidate to perform professional functions in a pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist while the candidate is training to become a pharmacy technician. The registration is valid for a limited period of time - two years - and it is not renewable. When the candidate has completed the training requirements, the candidate may then apply for the pharmacy technician certificate. The candidate need not wait until the registration has expired; as soon as the requirements have been completed, the candidiate may submit their application for the pharmacy technician certificate.

Pharmacy Technician Candidate RegistrationApplicants for the pharmacy technician candidate registration shall complete the application form supplied by the board and attach the required documentation and fee. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and,in addition, shall meet one of three eligibility options:

Option A - provide proof of enrollment in a nationally-accredited and board-approved pharmacy technician training program. A roster of nationally-accredited and board-approved pharmacy technician training programs is available here.

Option B - provide (1) proof of successful completion of a board-approved pharmacy technician certification examination AND (2) proof of successful completion of a high school (or GED) approved by a state department of education.

Option C - provide (1) proof of credentialing as a pharmacy technician by another state board of pharmacy, (2) evidnce of practice as a pharmacy technician for at least one year in that state, AND (3) proof of successful completion of a board-approved pharmacy technician certification examination.

When completed applications are received in the office, the office staff will send the applicant a packet of materials necessary to complete the required criminal background check (CBC). The applicant must submit their fingerprints for analysis by the Louisiana State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The applicant shall return the completed packet to the board office for submission to the La. State Police Headquarters. Following their analysis, those agencies will prepare a report for the board. The board staff must review that report before they can issue the registration. The amount of time necessary to complete the CBC process can vary widely - from as little as one week to more than six weeks. When the analysts determine the fingerprints are of insufficient quality, the applicant must re-submit their fingerprints, which takes additional time for processing. The CBC process is controlled by the La. State Police and FBI, and the board has no control over how long it takes for those agencies to send their report to the board. Applicants can substantially reduce the amount of time for that process by completing their packet at the La. State Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge, La. There is a nominal additional fee for that service, and instructions for that option are included in the packet of materials provided to the applicant.

The pharmacy technician candidate registration shall expire two years after the date of issue. It is a training credential and it is not renewable. The training requirements vary slightly depending on the eligibility option originally selected by the applicant:

Candidates who obtained their registration by selecting Option A shall complete a nationally-accredited and board-approved training program, obtaining the number of hours of practical experience required by the training program's curriculum. The diploma or certificate issued by the training program is proof of completion of the program as well as the practical experience earned during the program. The candidate will attach a copy of that document to their application for the pharmacy technician certificate.

Candidates who obtained their registration by selecting Option B or Option C shall earn at least 600 hours of practical experience in a pharmacy in Louisiana, subject to the following limitations - the permit of the pharmacy may not be on probation during the time the hours are earned, and the license of the pharmacist supervising the pharmacy technician candidate may not be on probation during the time the hours are earned.

All pharmacy technician candidates shall provide proof of successful completion of a board-approved pharmacy technician certification examination in order to qualify for the pharmacy technician certificate. The board has approved examinations from two organizations:

National Healthcareer Association [NHA - www.nhanow.com]. The Examination for Certification as Pharmacy Technician (ExCPT) administered by this organization was approved effective January 1, 2018. The board will accept completion certificates issued by NHA reflecting initial certification on or after January 1, 2018.

Pharmacy Technician CertificateApplicants for the pharmacy technician certificate shall complete the application form supplied by the board and attach the required documentation and fee. The documentation required includes proof of completion of a board-approved pharmacy technician certification examination [either PTCE issued on or after January 1, 2000 or ExCPT issued on or after January 1, 2018) AND one of the following: (1) for candidates who obtained their registration under Option A, a copy of the diploma or certificate of completion of a nationally-accredited and board-approved pharmacy technician training program, OR (2) for candidates who obtained their registration under Option B or Option C or any other method, proof of completion of at least 600 hours of practical experience using the Pharmacist's Certification form supplied by the board.

The initial pharmacy technician certificate shall expire on June 30 regardless of the date of issue. Pharmacy technicians must apply for the renewal of their certificate every year, using the application form supplied by the board. In order to qualify for the renewal of their certificate, the pharmacy technician must successfully complete at least 10 hours of ACPE-accredited technician-specific continuing education (CE), and further, must maintain their CE records at CPE Monitor, a free service provided through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Pharmacy technicians may establish their eProfile account for the CPE Monitor free of charge at www.nabp.pharmacy. The board will send a renewal reminder to the pharmacy technician approximately 60 days before the expiration date of their certificate. Pharmacy technicians may not practice with an expired certificate.

The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy (LBP) supports public access to information stored and maintained on this site. All the information provided is believed to be accurate and reliable; however, the Board shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.